The AirTrain is the fastest way to move around JFK and connect to New York City's public transit — but fares, free zones, and payment rules trip up a lot of travelers. Here's everything you need to know before you tap in.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Free Inside the Airport, Paid to Leave It
Riding the AirTrain between terminals, parking lots, rental cars, and hotel shuttles is always free. You only pay when you ride to or from Jamaica Station or Howard Beach Station — the exits that connect to the subway and LIRR. Tap OMNY only at those two stations.
What Is the JFK AirTrain?
The AirTrain is a fully automated, elevated people mover that connects:
- All passenger terminals
- Parking lots
- Hotel shuttles
- Rental car facilities
- Two rail stations: Jamaica and Howard Beach
- Frequency: Trains run every 5–15 minutes, depending on the line and time of day.
- Terminal-to-terminal travel: Under 10 minutes.
- Terminal to Jamaica or Howard Beach: Under 20 minutes (typically 8–15 minutes).
Landing soon and need to know where your ride will meet you? Check our JFK curbside pickup and drop-off guide for the rules on meeting arriving passengers.
AirTrain Routes: Where It Goes
Jamaica Line
Connects all terminals to Jamaica Station, where you can transfer to:
- LIRR (Long Island Rail Road)
- NYC Subway lines E, J, Z
Howard Beach Line
Connects all terminals to Howard Beach Station, where you can transfer to:
- NYC Subway line A
Federal Circle
The stop for rental cars and hotel shuttles.
Lefferts Boulevard
The stop for long-term parking.
When the AirTrain Is Free vs. When You Pay
✅ Free Rides
- Between terminals
- Between terminals and parking
- Between terminals and Federal Circle (rental cars, hotel shuttles)
- Between terminals and Lefferts Boulevard (long-term parking)
💳 Paid Rides
- Between JFK and Jamaica Station
- Between JFK and Howard Beach Station
Parked long-term and heading to Lefferts Boulevard? See our JFK parking guide for lot details and shuttle timing.
AirTrain Fares (2026)
- One-way fare: $8.75 per person
- Children under 5: Ride free
- Fare is automatically adjusted for inflation — it increased from $8.50 to $8.75 in 2026.
Rolling 30-Day Fare Cap
- You pay $8.75 per ride.
- Once your total AirTrain fares in a 30-day period reach $43.50, all additional AirTrain rides in that period are free.
- The system automatically adjusts your last charge so you never pay more than $43.50 in 30 days.
Important: Use the same payment method every ride if you want the discount cap to apply correctly.
Group Fare (Up to 5 People)
- First rider: $8.75
- Each additional rider: $4.50
- Maximum total for the group: $26.75
- All riders must tap the same card/device within 5 minutes.
- That same payment method cannot be used again for a group fare for the next 15 minutes.
How to Pay: OMNY System
The AirTrain uses the MTA's OMNY contactless fare system. You can pay with:
- Contactless credit/debit card (with the contactless symbol)
- Smartphone or smartwatch (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.)
- OMNY card (physical prepaid card)
How Payment Works in Practice
- OMNY readers are located at the gates of Jamaica and Howard Beach stations only.
- Approach the gate and tap your card, phone, or OMNY card.
- For the return trip, tap the same card/device again.
- OMNY cards can be purchased and reloaded at vending machines in Jamaica and Howard Beach stations (cash, credit, or debit).
OMNY also works across all NYC subway trains, buses, and the Roosevelt Island Tram — but note that AirTrain fares are charged separately from subway, LIRR, and Metro-North fares.
Connecting to Manhattan: Your Options
| Option | Approx. Total Time | Approx. Total Cost (2026) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirTrain + Subway (E/J/Z from Jamaica or A from Howard Beach) | 60–75 min | $8.75 + $3.00 = $11.75 | Budget travelers, light luggage, 24/7 service |
| AirTrain + LIRR (Jamaica to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison) | 35–45 min | $8.75 + ~$5–$7 (CityTicket) = $13.75–$15.75 | Faster rail option to Midtown, less crowding |
| Taxi (flat fare to Manhattan) | 45–75+ min (traffic dependent) | $70 flat fare + tolls + tip | Door-to-door, groups, heavy luggage |
| Uber/Lyft | 45–75+ min (traffic dependent) | Typically $65–$130 (surge possible) | Convenience, dynamic pricing |
Breaking Down the Rail Options
- AirTrain leg (terminals to Jamaica or Howard Beach): about 8–15 minutes.
- Subway (Jamaica to Midtown): about 40–55 minutes.
- LIRR (Jamaica to Penn Station/Grand Central Madison): about 17–22 minutes — the fastest rail option if your flight lands near Jamaica Station.
Service Frequency & Hours
- Trains run every 5–15 minutes, depending on the line and time of day.
- Exact hours and any temporary restrictions may vary due to construction — check station displays and the official JFK website for updates.
Onboard Rules
❌ Not Allowed
- Eating, drinking, or smoking on the train
✅ Allowed
- Luggage, suitcases, baggage carts, strollers
- Small pets in carriers
- Bicycles — maximum of 4 per train
⚠️ Note for cyclists: Bicycles are not allowed on Central Terminal Area roadways. Cyclists must use designated access routes.
Accessibility
All AirTrain stations and trains are ADA-compliant, featuring:
- Elevators and escalators
- Wheelchair space on trains
- Visual information and audio announcements
- Tactile platform edges and Braille/tactile signage
Accessible subway connections are available at both Jamaica and Howard Beach stations.
Where to Get Help
- On-site: Customer Experience Specialists in red uniforms are stationed throughout the AirTrain system.
- OMNY customer support:
- Phone: +1 (877) 789-6669
- Web: OMNY.info
Quick Reference: AirTrain Cheat Sheet
- Free: Terminal-to-terminal, terminal-to-parking, terminal-to-rental cars/hotels.
- Paid ($8.75): Only when riding to/from Jamaica or Howard Beach stations.
- Pay with: Contactless card, phone/smartwatch, or OMNY card — tap at Jamaica/Howard Beach gates only.
- 30-day cap: Never pay more than $43.50 in AirTrain fares per rolling 30 days.
- Fastest to Manhattan: AirTrain + LIRR from Jamaica (35–45 min total).
- Cheapest to Manhattan: AirTrain + Subway ($11.75 total).
In reply to AirTrain Re-opened by Anonymous (not verified)
I just called the AirTrain
I just called the AirTrain and was told that the service has not been restored. When? No one knows.
Is the Airtrain still not
Is the Airtrain still not runing?
In reply to Is the Airtrain still not by Jaime Rodriguez (not verified)
Is there a place on the
Is there a place on the internet to get service updates on the AirTrain? Hard to tell whether it is running or not? Trying to plot a path to JFK (from NJ via Penn Station) this evening for late PM departure and hoping for any insight about AirTrain connection to NY Subway.
thanks!
Kevin
In reply to Is there a place on the by Anonymous (not verified)
AirTrain from Jamaica
AirTrain from Jamaica Station is running now.
AirTrain
I understand that AirTrain closed because of snow late this afternoon. Does anyone know when it is scheduled to open again? Or taxis, or busses, or car services, or any way to leave the airport?
In reply to AirTrain by Caroline (not verified)
The web suggests only
The web suggests only routine delays due to service and maintenance for yesterday which certainly was not the case; no one was doing maintenance in the blizzard.
Email alerts:
http://www.airportinfoalerts.com/AlertSignupJFK.aspx
A friend sent me this link...
http://www.airportinfoalerts.com/recentmessages.aspx
Share any news you get!
Martin
martin.nolan@gmail.com
Hi, How long does it take to
Hi, How long does it take to get from JFK Terminal 1 to PEnn Station with AirTrain?
Thanky you!
In reply to Hi, How long does it take to by Anonymous° (not verified)
You take air train to either
You take air train to either Jamaica or Howard Beach Station (both final stops take you to the Penn station) To get to the final stops of Air train takes approximately 15 min. To get from Howard beach or jamaica (either A or E subway) takes about 1 hour and 20 min to Penn station.
Hi, As much as I understood
Hi,
As much as I understood Airtrain seems to be one of the best possibilities to get to Manhatten directly. But could you tell me: I need to get from JFK Terminal 1 to Penn Station. How long does this ride take?
Thank you!
In reply to Hi, As much as I understood by Anonymous (not verified)
how long does airtrain take
how long does airtrain take to go to penn staition
How long does it take with the air train
How long does it take from the airoport JFK to Howard Beach station with the air train ?
Is the air train comming often ?? Every 20min ??
And do you know how long does it take from the Howard Beach station to bowery station with the subway ?? Thanks :)
In reply to How long does it take with the air train by elvira (not verified)
Bowery station is on the J
Bowery station is on the J subway line, so take AirTrain to Jamaica Station, not Howard Beach, and transfer to the J subway there. Trains run every 10 minutes. NOTE: due to the snow AirTrain and above ground subway service will not resume until tracks are cleared.
Times of Air Train
My flight will be getting to JFK at 5:30am, will the Air Train be running at that around time? Or does it have certain hours of operation?
In reply to Times of Air Train by Anonymous (not verified)
Normally air train operates
Normally air train operates 24/7 and for sure at the time of your arrival.
In reply to Times of Air Train by Anonymous (not verified)
Airtrain runs 24/7. MS
Airtrain runs 24/7.
MS
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